Mechanical exerciser



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 10, 1958 INVENTOR jzuo 29m ail/5Z5:

Dec. 29, 1959 J. M. ZURO MECHANICAL EXERCISER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1958 INVENTOR.

cv yz Z/VBY E w United States Patent Office Patented Dec. 29, 19,59

IWECHANICAL EXERCISER John M. Zuro, Chicago, 111., assignor to Walter Rather, doing business as The Grant Company, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 16, 1258, Serial No. 726,391

Claims. (Cl. 272-83) This invention relates in general to home exercising devices, and more particularly to those having a very wide variety of uses.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of an improved main bar portion for such a mechanical exerciser having means secured at its ends for optionally supporting the same either on a horizontal surface, such as a floor, or between vertical uprights, such as the side frame members of a doorway, without the use of any auxiliary fastening means.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this object is attained by employing two telescopically arranged tubes, one of smaller diameter slidably mounted in one of larger diameter; an externally threaded rod secured at one end to the outer end of the larger tube, to which is also rotatably secured a flanged disk of greater diameter than the larger tube which retains a resilient pad extending axially outwardly therefrom; a similar padretaining flanged disk secured to the outer end of the smaller tube; and a nut screw-threadedly mounted on the rod and secured to the inner end of the smaller tube.

Another important object of the invention is to adapt such an improved bar for use in performing many different types of physical exercises, which is accomplished in the embodiment illustrated by providing a plurality of coil spring devices, annular slide members adjustably mounted on the larger diameter tube of a main transverse bar portion, and manually releasable clip means for interconnecting each spring device with a slide member, whereby all manner of pulling, pushing, lifting and twisting exercises may be performed in or from any desired position, such as standing, sitting, prone, etc.

A further important object is to simplify the manufacture and use of such a mechanical exerciser and minimize its cost. This has been done by using only a single threaded rod for varying the length of the main bar portion, and providing annular slide members and manually releasable clip means of simple and unique construction for adjustably and removably securing the spring devices to the bar portion.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of a mechanical exerciser embodying the features of the instant invention mounted in a doorway, or the like;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the right-hand end portion of the main tubular base structure of the exerciser of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. .4 is an exploded view of one of the annular slide members;

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the clip means of Fig. 6.-

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a mechanical exerciser is therein illustrated, and designated generally by reference numeral 11, which embodies the features of this invention and comprises a main trans! verse bar portion or tubular base structure indicated generally by reference numeral 12, and a pair of coil spring exercising devices 13, each of which is adjustably and removably mounted on the transverse bar portion 12 by means of an annular slide member 14 and a manually releasable clip means indicated generally by reference numeral 15.

The main transverse bar portion 12 is made up of two telescopically arranged tubes, an outer tube 16 and an inner tube 17, which are interconnected by screw means comprising an externally threaded bolt 18 and a nut 19. The nut 19 is press-fitted into the inner end of the smaller tube 17 and rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner to receive the bolt 18. The outer end of the bolt is rigidly secured, as by upsetting of the marginal portion of the outer end surface thereof, to a flanged ring 21 that is press-fitted into, and secured in any suitable manner to, the outer end of the larger tube 16. The threads on the bolt 18 and in the nut 19 preferably are of Very high pitch, so that a minimum force is required to be applied to rotate the tubes 16 and 17 relative to each other in order to effectively jam the outer ends of the main bar portion 12 against vertical supports in the manner to be described hereinafter in greater detail.

The flanged ring 21 serves the additional function of a hub for one of the end mounting means of the main transverse bar portion 12. As best seen in Fig. 2, this mounting means comprises a flanged annular disk 22 rotatably mounted on a reduced outer end portion of the flanged ring 21 and retained against displacement there from in any suitable manner, as by upsetting of the marginal end surface of the reduced portion of the ring 21. it is preferred that a thin bearing ring 23 be interposed between the main flange of maximum diameter on the ring 21 and the inner side surface of the flanged disk 22-. A resilient pad means in the form of a rubber ring 24 is pressed into the annular groove defined by the flanged disk 22 and extends outwardly therefrom for frictionally engaging against a vertical support, such as that indicated at 25. A similar mounting means is secured to the opposite end of the tubular base structure 12 which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 5. This means 1 comprises a flanged plug 26 similar in outer configuration to the ring 21, which is press-fitted into, and secured in any suitable manner to, the outer end of the smaller tube 17. Mounted upon this plug 26 is a flanged annular disk 27 which may be identical to the flanged end disk 22. As shown in Fig. 5, the disk 27 is rigidly secured to the plug 26, but it will be appreciated that the same may be readily mounted thereon, if desired, in the same manner as the disk 22 is mounted upon the ring 21. Like the disk 22, the flanged disk 2'7 carries a re.- silient pad in the form of a rubber ring 24 adapted to engage against a vertical support 28.

As will be clearly apparent from the illustration in Fig. 2, rotation of the outer tube 16 relative to the inner tube 17 will result in rotation of the threaded rod or bolt 18 relative to the nut 19 to selectively adjust the effective length of the main transverse bar portion 12. If the latter is placed between a pair of properly located vertical supports, such as the members 25 and 28 which represent the vertical frame members of a doorway, such relative rotation of the tubes 16 and 17 in the proper di--' rection to increase the length of the main bar portion 12 obviously will result in the latter being jammed between the vertical supports. With the use of a high pitch thread, as previously noted, such jamming can be accomplished with a minimum-effort to result in the main bar portion 12 being capable of supporting an appreciable weight without requiring any extraneous fastening means, such as screws or nails. With the device herein illustrated, any person, regardless of size or age, thus readily can mount the main transverse bar portion 12 between suitable vertical supports, as illustrated in Fig. l, sufiicient- 1y securely that the exerciser bar is capable of supporting a weight considerably in excess of that of the particular individual. The resilient pad means 24 facilitate such mounting of the device and effectively prevent marring or any other damaging of the surface of the vertical supports 25 and 28 engaged thereby.

To materially increase and vary the types of exercises that may be performed with the instant device, one or more of the spring exercisers 13 may be mounted upon, or secured to, the tubular base structure 12. For this purpose oneor more of the annular slide members 14 are mounted upon the outer tube 16 in the following manner. Referring more particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, each slide member 14 will be seen to comprise a major portion surrounding the outer tube 16 which is disposed Within the outline of the flanged disks 22 and 27, and an enlarged depending portion 29 having an aperture 31 extending therethrough. The bore of this annular slide member 14 is enlarged, cut away or T-slotted at 32 (Fig. 4) adjacent the enlarged portion 29 of the slide. Mounted in such slotted portion 32 is a leaf spring33, the ends of which preferably are notched to facilitate the same being retained in the enlarged portion 32 of the bore of the annular slide 14. The effective length of the leaf spring 33 is such as to result in the spring frictionally engaging the outer surface of the tube 16 to resist relative movement between the slide member and the tube to maintain the slide member in selectively adjusted position, while still permitting adjustment thereof both rotationally and longitudinally on the tube.

- As seen best in Figs. 1 and 3, each of the spring exercising devices 13 preferably comprises a coil spring having loop means 34 integrally formed in well known manner at the ends thereof, and suitable handle means 35, which are illustrated as comprising a metal bail 36 having a central loop portion and secured at its ends in any desired manner to a transverse member 37. The manually releasable clip means are employed for interconnecting the handle means 35 to one of the spring loops 34 and for connecting the other of the loops 34 of each spring device 13 to one of the annular slide members 14.

' As seen best in Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 8, each of these manually releasable clip means 15 comprises a base portion or link 38 having an aperture 39 in each end thereof and a central aperture 41. The apertures 39 each have a slot 42 communicating therewith, with the two slots 42 being disposed in opposite sides of the link, whereby the apertures 39 and slots 42 define open-sided books at the opposite ends of the link 38. A keeper 43 is rotatably mounted upon the base or link 38, as by means of a rivet 44 passing through the central aperture 41 of the link and a similar central aperture provided in the keeper 43. The ends of the keeper comprise notched flanges 45 extending in the same direction at substantially right angles therefrom and each adapted, when the clip means 15 is in its closed position of Fig. 6, to be positioned in one of the slots 42 in an active position to close the associated aperture 39. These flanges 45 have the additional function of facilitating rotation of the keeper 43 4 surface of the link 38 to constitute finger-engageable pieces.

Means are provided for frictionally retaining the manually releasable clip means 15 in either its active position of Fig. 6 or its full line inactive position of Fig. 2. This means comprises a leaf spring 46 mounted upon the rivet 44 and interposed between the head portion thereof and the bottom surface of the keeper 43. The spring 46 and rivet 44 thus retain the keeper 43 and link 38 in frictional engagement with each other. Cam means are provided to releasably retain the keeper in either of its active or inactive positions. In the illustrated embodiment, this cam means comprises protuberances 47 formed. on the inner surface of the keeper 43 and corresponding indentations 48 formed in the inner surface of the link 38 to receive the protuberances 47 when the clip means is in its closed or active position of Figs. 6 and 7. When the keeper 43 is rotatedrelative to the link 38 to the open position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the protuberances 47 are swung outwardly of the side edges of the link 38 to cooperate therewith, under the action of the spring 46, to assist in retaining the clip in such inactive position.

From the preceding description, it will be appreciated that the annular slide members 14 readily may be disposed at any selected adjusted position along the outer tube 16. Whenever it is desired to attach one or more of the spring exercising devices 13, it is necessary only relative to the link 38 between suchclosed or, active position and an open or inactive position illustrated in full lines, in Fig. 2, sincerthey..extendbeyond the upper.

to move the keeper 43 of one of the manually releasable clip means 15 to its open or inoperative position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and engage one of the hook ends of its link 38 in an aperture 31 of one of the slide members 14 and the other hook portion thereof in a loop 34 of the spring exercising device 13. Following such engagement, rotation of the keeper 43 to its closed or active position, as shown in Fig. 6 and in broken lines in Fig. 2, will complete the desired attachment. The material advantages of the unique constructions of the slide members 14 and clip means 15 will be clearly apparent. While different means may be employed for attaching the handle portion 35 of each spring device 13 to its other spring loop 34, it is preferred, because of these advantages and in order to minimize the cost of the unit, to employ the same releasable clip means 15 for this purpose.

As best illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, the outer diameter of the flanged disks 22 and 27 is sufficiently greater than the outer diameter of the tube 16 and the major portions of the annular slide members 14 mounted on the latter as to provide clearance between such portions of the slide members 14 and any horizontal surface upon which the end supporting disks 22 and 27 may be placed. This greatly facilitates use of the instant mechanical exerciser for entirely different types of exercises than can be performed when the same is mounted in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 1. For example, the main transverse bar portion 12 may be placed upon a floor and, while held in place by one or more of the feet of the operator, various forms of exercise may be performed through the agency of one or more of the spring devices 13, either when in their relative positions of Fig. 1 or when disposed in different positions therefrom on the tube 16. In addition, while one using the exerciser is in a sitting or prone position, the transverse bar portion 12 may either be retained by the feet and the handle portions 35 grasped in the hands, or the latter may be engaged by the feet and the transversebar portion 12 grasped in the hands to perform numerous'other types of exercises. Besides standard pulling, pushing and twisting exercises that thus may be performed and with which the instant exerciser may be used, and those avail able when the main transverse bar portion 12 is mounted in a doorway, or the like, as illustrated in Fig. 1, removal of the spring exercising devices 13 therefrom will facilitate use of the transverse bar .portion 12 at. various heights as a stretching bar, or a chinning or turning bar.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A mechanical exerciser, comprising a transverse bar portion, mounting means secured to the ends of said bar portion, a pair of annular slide members mounted on said bar portion for adjustable movement thereon relative to each other, resilient means for interposing frictional resistance to relative movement between each said slide member and said bar portion to maintain said slide members in selectively adjusted position, a pair of coil springs each having integral loop means at each end, handle means, and manually releasable clip means for interconnecting one said loop means on each spring with a said handle means and for interconnecting the other said loop means on each spring to a said slide member.

2. A mechanical exerciser according to claim 1, wherein each said clip means comprises a link having a slot adjacent each end, a keeper for closing said slots, means for pivotally mounting said keeper centrally on said link, and resilient means mounted by said last means for maintaining frictional engagement between said link and said keeper.

3. A mechanical exerciser, comprising a bar portion made up of two telescopically arranged tubes, one of smaller diameter slidably mounted in one of larger diameter, an externally threaded rod secured at one end to a first end of said tube of larger diameter, and an internally threaded nut mounted on said rod and secured to a first end of said tube of smaller diameter, whereby the length of said bar portion may be varied by rotating said tubes relatively to each other, a plurality of coil spring devices, an annular member surrounding said tube of larger diameter for mounting each said spring device thereon, and resilient means interposed between each said annular member and said tube of larger diameter to frictionally resist relative movement therebetween and maintain said annular members in selectively adjusted position.

4. In a mechanical exerciser according to claim 3, manually operable clip means for securing each said spring device to a said annular member, each said clip means comprising a link having a slot adjacent each end thereof, said slots opening, respectively, at opposite sides of said link to provide open-sided hooks, and a keeper pivotally mounted centrally of said link and having end portions for closing the side openings in said link and terminating in finger-operable flanges adapted to extend through said slots.

5. A mechanical exerciser according to claim 4, wherein each said clip means comprises a rivet pivotally interconnecting said link and keeper, and a leaf spring mounted on said rivet for maintaining frictional engagement between said link and keeper.

6. A mechanical exerciser, comprising a transverse bar portion made up of telescopically disposed tubes, flanged disks of an outer diameter greater than that of the largest of said tubes secured to the ends of said transverse bar portion, a plurality of coil spring devices, and an annular member surrounding said largest tube for mounting each said spring device thereon, the major portion of each said annular member being disposed within the outline of said flanged disks so as to be spaced from a horizontal surface supporting said disks to facilitate adjustable positioning of said members longitudinally of said tubes.

7. In a mechanical exerciser according to claim 6, means for frictionally resisting adjustment of said members, comprising a leaf spring interposed between each said member and said largest tube.

8. A mechanical exerciser according to claim 7, wherein each said member is provided with an enlarged portion having an aperture therethrough, and a manually releasable clip having a hook portion at one end extending through said aperture and a second hook portion at the other end engaging a said spring device.

9. In a mechanical exerciser according to claim 8, a keeper pivotally mounted on said clip intermediate the ends thereof, and means for frictionally maintaining said keeper in a position wherein the opposite ends thereof maintain said hook portions respectively engaged with the associated said member and spring device.

10. In a mechanical exerciser having a tubular base structure and a plurality of exercising devices for attachment thereto in selected positions thereon, clip means for manually releasably attaching each said exercising device to said base structure, comprising a link having an aperture in each end thereof and a slot communicating with each aperture, said slots being formed in opposite sides of said link to define with their apertures oppositely disposed open-sided hooks at the ends of said link, a keeper centrally rotatably mounted on said link and having a flange at each end adapted to be positioned in a said slot in an active position to close the associated said aperture and rotatable to an inactive position to open the associated said hook, spring means for resiliently maintaining said link and keeper in frictional engagement with each other, and cam means formed on said link and said keeper cooperating to releasably retain said keeper in either active or inactive position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 587,463 Sullivan Aug. 3, 1897 629,655 Bryon July 25, 1899 725,876 Roche Apr. 21, 1903 740,443 Korth Oct. 6, 1903 798,114 Rosenthal Aug. 29, 1905 1,390,095 Dettinger et al. Sept. 6, 1921 1,585,748 Wendelken May 25, 1926 1,942,088 Dietrich Jan. 2, 1934 1,951,660 Klaudt Mar. 20, 1934 2,637,555 Klaudt May 5, 1953 2,716,027 Gehri Aug. 23, 1955 2,717,145 Andrew Sept. 6, 1955 2,725,210 Swartz Nov. 29, 1955 2,850,254 Houseworth Sept. 2, 1958 

